Container



June 10, 1941. H, A, CA RUTH 2,244,940

CDONTAINER 7 Filed Aug. 13, 1956 2 Sfigets-Sheet 1 3 1 a r 7 l 7ATTORNEY Ju ne 10, 1941. H. A. CARRUTH CONTAINER Filed Aug. 15, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 2 v m u I n I u a a u I I I l NV EN TO R 7 1767711011 19far/ail;

ATTO R N EY Patented June 10, 1941 CONTAINER Hermann. Carruth, MountCarmel, (loan, as-

signor to National Folding Box Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporationof New Jersey Application August 13, 1936, Serial No. 95,785

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and method of making same, and moreparticularly to a container adapted to be shipped and stored incollapsed knockdown condition and thereafter assembled by the user asneeded.

Substantial economies can be effected in the packaging of bulkyproducts, such as ice cream by using containers which can be formed bythe box manufacturer and thereafter shipped in collapsed stackedposition to the merchandise manufacturer, who can thereafter assemblethe container as needed. Since such containers are generally thrown awayafter a single use, it is important that they be low in cost and yetstrong and durable in use and so constructed that they can be quicklyassembled by the user with a minimum of effort and expense. Wherepowdered, granular, liquid or semi-liquid substances or materials are tobe packed therein, it is also highly desirable that the container asassembled by the user be substantially leak and siftproof.

In accordance with this invention, a tubular body member is providedhaving diametrically opposed fold lines extending longitudinally acrossthe side wall-forming portion thereof which permits substantially flatcollapse of the body member. The body member may be either formed from asingle blank of paperboard material, the side edges of which aresuitably secured together to provide a tubular body, or if desired, thebody may be formed from spiral wound paperboard formed on a mandreldesigned for this purpose. When the body member is formed from spiralwound paperboard, the diametrically opposed fold lines are appliedthereto after the body member has been formed. -When the body member isformed from a fiat blank the fold lines may be applied to the blankbefore it is shaped into tubular form. A bottom end member, also formedfrom relatively stiff, strong paperboard, is shaped to close and sealone end of the tubular body member. Either the body member or the bottomend member or both may be provided with tab or flange portions by meansof which the bottom end member may be secured to the body member. Astrip of latex'adhesive is applied around the outer periphery of thebottom end member either on the inside face or the outside face thereof.A strip of latex adhesive is likewise applied either to the inside faceor outside face of the tab or flange portions extending from the loweredge of the body member. Where the latex adhesive is'applied to theinside face of the tab or flange portions, the tab portions arepreferably folded inwardly to overlie the inside face of the side wallportion of the body member so as to avoid and prevent the possibility ofadjacent latex-coated surfaces from coming into adhering contact whenthe body members are stacked in collapsed flat position. Where the latexadhesive is applied to the outside face of the tab portions, the bodymembers are stacked so that the bottom tab portions rest on the uncoatedportion of the adjacent body member, so that there is no possibility oftwo latex coating surfaces coming into adhering contact. The bodymembers as thus formed can be stacked and assembled in a convenientpackage and thereafter shipped to the user and stored until needed.Since the bottom end members have latex adhesive applied to only, oneface thereof, they also can be laterally stacked one upon the otherwithout danger that adjacent latex coated areas will come into adheringcontact. The stacked bottom end members may also be assembled intoconvenient packages by the manufacturer and thereafter shipped to theuser and stored until needed.

When the user needs a container he expands the body member into opentubular form, applies the bottom end member and permanently secures thebottom end member to the body end member by applying pressure to theadjacent overlapping latex coated portions of the bottom member and bodyend member. The quick applica tion of pressure is all that is needed tofirmly bind and secure the bottom end member to the body member,providing a strong, durable and highly satisfactory container. The latexadhesive is water repellent and is not deleteriously affected by contactwith moisture. Thus, liquid or'semi-liquid products, such as ice creamand frozen fruit juices, may be packaged therein without danger that thecontainer will become in any material degree weakened thereby. The latexlayer interleaved between the overlapping portions of the body memberand bottom end member serve to caulk the bottom of the container andthus prevent leakage of liquid or semi-liquid contents or the sifting ofgranular materials packaged therein.

My improved container can be formed substantially entirely by automaticmachinery substantially without waste of material and can bemanufactured and assembled with a minimum of labor, substantiallyentirely by automatic machinery, providing a highly serviceable and satisfactory container at a cost considerably less than containersheretofore used in the packaging of comparatively heavy bulky productswhich are liquid, semi-liquid or granular in nature.

object of this invention is to provide an improved container adapted tobe shipped and strong and durable in service, which is moistureresistant, and which is substantially leak and siftproof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method for assemblingmy improved container quickly, economically and expeditiously.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following particular description.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes ofexplanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modifiedin various respects without departure from the broad aspect of theinvention.

Fig. l is a face view of an extended paperboard blank from which thetubular body of the container may be made;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the body-forming blank showingparticularly latex adhesive applied to one of the securing flaps;

Fig. 3.is a face view of a paperboard blank which may form the bottomend member of the container;

Fig. 4 shows a stack of the collapsed containerforming bodies;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a container body partially expanded andabout to be assembled into container form;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the fully assembled container having thebottom end member permanently applied to the container body, certainparts being broken away to illustrate certain features of theconstruction;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of an assembled container of somewhatmodified form, this container having the bottom-forming end memberpositioned within the tubular body;

Fig.8 shows a stack of collapsed bodies constructed in accordance withthe container body shown in Fig. '7

Fig. 9 is a face view of a body-forming blank of somewhat modified form;

Fig. 10'is a face view of a bottom-forming end member adapted to beassociated with a body member formed from the blank shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a container assembled from thebody-forming blank shown in Fig. 9 and the bottom-forming blank shown inFig. 10;

Fig. 12 shows a stack of collapsed container bodies formed from theblank shown in Fig. 9;

and

Fig. 13 shows a stack of the bottom-forming end members illustrated inFig. 10.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings and specification.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the containercomprises generally a body member A' formed from relatively still,strong paperboard material, and a bottom end member B which also may beformed of relatively stiff paperboard material having sufficientstrength to adequately support the contents and resist shock due; to vrough handling.' The body member A may be formed from a single blank ofpaperboard material, such as shown in Fig. 1, comprising a containerside wall-forming portion I having a flap 2 at one edge thereof whichmay be suitably secured to the opposite free edge of the body-formingblank so as to provide a tubular body. The upper edge ofthe body-formingportion I is preferably provided with a flange portion 3 which may befolded downwardly over the outside face of the side wall-forming portionI by bending along the transversely extending score line 4. The loweredge of the side wall portion I may be provided with a plurality of tabs5 adapted to be bent inwardly to provide .a flange to which the bottomend member may be attached and upon which it may be supported. Anoutwardly offset creased portion 5 defines the tabs 5 from the sidewall-forming portion I, the"crease 6 permitting the tab portions 5 to beturned inwardly in the manner shownin Fig. 6.

The outside face of the tab portions 5 are coated with latex adhesive L,which can easily be done by running the blank through an automatic glueapplicator which applies the latex adhesive in a continuous stripthereto, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A strip of latex adhesive canlikewise be applied to the flange portion 3 and the adjacent section ofthe side wall-forming portion I in the form of a continuous strip andduring the same operation in which the latex adhesive is applied to thetab portions 5. It is also understood that if desired a glue adhesivemay be applied to the flange portion 3, while the latex adhesive Lrisapplied to the tab portions 5 along the opposite edge of the blank.

Latex adhesive possesses peculiar properties which differ greatly fromthe ordinary glue ad-' hesives. Latex adhesive while in a semi-liquid orfluid state will adhere to a dry paperboard surface. When the latexadhesive has become dry, due to the escape ofits volatile constituents,it will continue to adhere to the surface to which it has beenpreviously applied but will not adhere to a paperboard surface which hasnot been coated with the liquid latex adhesive. When two surfaces havingdry latex applied thereto are pressed together, however, they becometenaciously and firmly bonded together by the coaction of the adjacentdry latex layers, which forms a bond which exceeds in strength thestrongest glue adhesive. For convenience of description, I refer to asingle latex layer with the designation L and two superimposed latexlayers binding together the parts to which they are applied, with thedesignation LL.

Following the application of the adhesive to the blank, the body memberis ready to be assembled. In assembling the body member, the flangeportion 3 is turned downwardly so as to overlie the side wall-formingportion I and is preferably secured thereto as by the adhesive stripapplied thereto as above described. The body-forming blank is then bentinto tubular form and the securing flap 2 to which adhesive haspreviously been applied is secured to the free edge of the sidewall-forming portion I. There is shown for purposes of illustration,latex adhesive L applied to the securing fiap 2 and the'opposite side ofthe side wall-forming portion I, but other securing, means, such asstaples, stitching, or adhesive glue may be here used, if'desired.

The body-forming blank is provided with a.

pair of longitudinally extending diametrically opposed fold lines "Iwhich permit the tubular body member to be collapsed in substantiallyflat condition as shown in Fig. 4. The flange portion 3 may be providedwith V-shaped cutouts 8 adjacent the ends of the fold lines I so thatthe flange portion 3 will not interfere or hinder the col-.

lapsing movement of the body member. The collapsed body members may bestacked as shown in Fig. 4 with the tab portions 5, to which latexadhesive L has been applied, arranged in the stack in alternaterelationship. As thus arranged, it will be noted that there are nolatexcoated surfaces in contact and the stack of collapsed bodies can bereadily transported and handled without danger that they will adhere toone another.

The bottom-forming end member B may comprise a disc ll) of relativelystiff, strong paperboard material which has adhesive L applied in astrip around the inside face thereof. The latex adhesive L is applied toonly one face of the end member-B and consequently the end members mayreadily be stacked one upon the other without danger that they willadhere to one another during shipment, storage and handling.

The collapsed tubular bodies are stackedv as shown in Fig. 4 and tiedtogether to form a convenient bundle. The end wall-forming members B,having latex adhesive applied only to one surface thereof, are likewisestacked and the stack assembly then tied together in a convenientbundle. The bundled collapsed bodies and bundled end wall-formingmembers may be shipped to the user and stored by the user until needed.

When a container 'is needed to contain the merchandise a body member islifted off from the stack shown in Fig. 4 and pressure applied to sameso as to expand it outwardly into generally tubular form. This may bedone, if desired, by telescoping the body member over a suitablemandrelor forming core. If a generally cylindrical container is desired it ispreferable to provide the body-forming blank shown in Fig. 1 with aplurality of parallel extending scores or offset portions 9 which permitthe body member to be easily shaped. Where the body member is formedfrom spiral wound paperboard then, of course, the shape-forming scoresor ofiset portions a may be unnecessary and only the collapsing foldlines I need be provided. When the body member has been opened intoextended tubular form the tab portions 5 are bent inwardly and thebottom end member it applied thereto. The latex L applied to the outsidesurface of the tab portions 5 will contact the strip of latex L appliedto the inside face of the bottom end member it and by the application ofsuitable pressure to the tab portions 5 and the end member it, the endmember it will become firmly and permanently secured to the body memberby the latex layer LL interposed therebetween;

The adhering qualities of the latex layer LL shown inFig. 6 are suchthat heavy bulky materials can be packed within the container Withoutdanger that the adhesive will give way and permit separation of thebottom end member from the body member. The container thus formed isadmirably adapted for the packaging of ice cream and the container maybe formed in the convenient 2 or 5 gallon size. The latex layer LL isresistant to moisture and a container formed as above described issubstantially liquidtight, which permits packing of the liquid cream aor fruit juices therein after which it is frozen and delivered to thecustomer. The latex adhesive is not affected by the freezing action andpermanently retains its strong adhesive quality. The multiple offsetscore portions 9 permit outward expansion of the body member duringfreezing. The container is also adapted for the packing of numerousother products either in a powdered, granular, dry, semi-dry, orsubstantially liquid state. The flange portion 3 provides ashape-maintaining rim over which a suitable cover member may betelescoped and secured.

There is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 a body member which may be formed from ablank similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except that the latex adhesive Lis applied to the inside face of the tab portions 5. In this form thebottom end member ID is provided with a strip of latex adhesive Lapplied to the outside face thereof. In assembling this container thebottom end member l0, preferably of slightly oversize dimensions, istelescoped into the expanded tubular body member until it comes to restwithin the outwardly offset scored portion 6, which provides in effectan inside groove l I which receives the outer edge of the end member ID.The tab portions 5 are then turned inwardly and pressed against theoutside face of the bottom end member I0 so as to caus the adjacentlayers of latex adhesive to firmly adhere together so as to form abonding layer of latex adhesive LL interleaved between the tabs 5 andthe end member ID.

The body member forming part of the container shown in Fig. 7 may beshipped and stacked in collapsed condition by turning the tab portions 5inwardly and upwardly as shown in Fig. 8 so that the latex-coated insidesurface thereof will rest against the unooated inside surface of theside wall-forming portion I of .the body member. The dry latex adhesivelayer L applied to the inside face of the tab portions 5 will not adhereto the body member and the collapsed body members may be safely stackedwithout danger that any portion of the stacked body members will adheretogether. When a body member is lifted from the stack and expanded intotubular form, the natural resiliency of the paperboard will cause thetab portions 5 to flare inwardly and outwardly away from the inside faceof the side wall portion i and the end wall-forming member it may bequickly telescoped into the body member and pressed into adheringcontact with the tab portions 5.

There is shown in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, a container of furthermodified form which is also adapted to be shipped and stored incollapsed, knockdown condition and thereafter set up by the user asneeded. In the construction here shown, the bottom end member Bcomprises a bottomiorming portion i5 which has a series of tab poriionsit extending around the periphery thereof and secured thereto by anoutwardly offset portion ll? which extends around the periphery of thebottom portion 65. The inside face of the tab portions it are preferablycoated with latex adhesive. The body-forming blank A shown in Fig. 9 issimilar to the body-forming blank A shown in Fig. 1. except that the tabportions 5 associated'with the blank shown in Fig. 1 are eliminated. Astrip of latex adhesive L, as shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 12 is applied tothe outside face of the side wall-forming portion l along the bottomedge thereof. The body-forming blank is assembled as heretoforedescribed by folding the fiange portion 3 downwardly over the outsideother suitable securing means. The tubular body members may be collapsedinto flat condition along diametrically opposed score lines 1 and thenstacked intoalternately arranged relationship, as shown in Fi 12. Asthus arranged it will be noted that there are no latex-coated surfacesin contact, and the stacked collapsed body members may be bundledtogether into asuitable package and thereafter shipped and storedwithout danger that the body members will adhere to one another. The endwall-forming members B shown in Fig. 10 may likewise be stacked one uponthe other, as shown in Fig. 13, without danger that adjacentlatex-coated surfaces will adhere.

When the container is to be assembled, a body member A is lifted fromthe stack shown in Fig. 12 and expanded into tubular form by means of asuitable mandrel. The bottom end member B is then applied to the bottomend of the body member A and so arranged that the bottom end of the bodymember will seat within the groove I8 formed by the offset portion II.The tab portions I6 are then turned at right angles to the bottomportion I and pressed into adhering contact with'the latex-coatedoutside face of the side wall portion I of the body member. The tabportions I6 and the adjacent side wall portion I of the body member arethen pressed into firm adhering engagement so that a bonding layer oflatex adhesive LL is interleaved between. the tab portions I6 and theside wall-forming portion I. The tab portions I6 are preferably soshaped that when folded into adhering contact with the body portion theywill provide a smooth, continuous iim, as shown in Fig. 11, so as toprovide a strong and serviceable container of attractive appearance. Thebonding quality of the latex layer LL is such as to securely hold thebottom end member B to the body member A, and the container as thusconstructed will support heavy, bulky products.

In certain instances, and particularly in the formation of relativelysmall containers for ice cream, it may be desirable to ship to the userthe body blanks as shown in Fig. 9, the user being provided with asuitable mandrel to form the body into tubular form. In such event thecreases I may be eliminated and latex adhesive applied to the securingflap 2 and also to the opposite end of the body blank. Such a containermay have a shipped and thereafter assembled in tubular formby the useras needed.

The body member and. the bottom end member maybe formed of any desiredmaterial but preferably are formed of tough, strong paperboard which isrelatively rigid to adequately support the contents packed therein. Asuitable waterproof coating may be applied to the paperaffected bymoisture whereas glue adhesive is decidedly weakened by contact withmoisture. Latex adhesive further prevents the leakage of liquid orsemi-liquid contents packed within the container. The latex adhesiveserves to caulk and close any openings which might otherwise cxist'orappear. The container is thus rendered substantially liquid-tight.

The body member may, if desired, be formed from spiral wound paperboardwhich is formed by winding a plurality of layers of tough, strong paperabout a mandrel to form a body member of generally tubular shape. Suchspiral wound body members may thereafter be longitudinally scored topermit fiat collapse thereof. The container herein described may beformed and assembled substantially entirely by automatic machinery andat very low cost. Where the body member is made from separate blanks,the blanks may be cut and scored from largerolls of paperboard byautomatic machinery and substantially without hand operation. The bottomend member' forming blanks may likewise be cut, and also scored wheredesired, by automatic machinery. It will be noted that the latexadhesive is applied in strips to one side of the body-forming blank andbottom-forming blank only, which permits the blanks to be run throughautomatic gluers and the latex adhesive thus applied automatically atlow cost. The collapsed bodies and bottom-forming blanks may be stackedin compact layers requiring a minimum of space and thus greatlyeconomizing on shipping and storage costs, particularly where containershaving considerable bulk capacity are desired. The tubular bodies may bequickly set up substantially by automatic machinery, if desired, whichmay be relatively simple in construction. The user can thus assemble thecontainer as and when needed, so that storage space can be economizedon. The

latex adhesive will not deteriorate under normal conditions of storage.The bottom end member will become permanently and fixedly secured to thebody member by the substantially instan taneousapplication of pressureapplied to the adjacent latex-coated parts thereof. A strong and rigidcontainer adapted to support and contain contents of substantial weightand bulk is thus provided.

The container. herein described is admirably adapted for the packagingof ice cream and fruit juices wherein the ice cream or juice insubstantially" liquid condition is poured into the assembled containerto be thereafter frozen therein. The container herein described can beconstructed and assembled at less cost than collapsible paperboardcontainers now used in the packaging of ice cream. Thus definiteeconomies in the packaging of ice cream can be realized. The containeris also adaptable for the packaging of other bulky or heavy products andarticles or products which;are either powdered or granular or liquid,semi-liquid or substantially dry in character.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed andare pointed out in the annexed claims, it willbe understood that variousomissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in theart without departboard so as to make the container resistant tomoisture. Latex adhesive possesses several advantages over glue adhesivenormally used in assembling paperboard containers. For example, thestrength of the latex adhesive is in no way ing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A paperboard container adapted to be shipped and stored in collapsedknockdown condition and set up by the user including, a tubular bodymember having diametrically opposed score lines permitting substantiallyflat collapse thereof, said body member having bottom-attaching portionsextending from one end thereof, a separate bottom member adapted to beassembled by the user to the expanded tubular body member, saidbottom-attaching portions having a layer of latex adhesive applied tothe inside face thereof only, and a strip of latex adhesive applied tothe outside face portions of said bottom end member only juxtaposedagainst said bottom-attaching portions, said bottom-attaching portionsbeing folded inwardly so that the latex adhesive coated face thereoflies in non-adhering juxtaposition to the inside non-adhesive face ofsaid tubular body member permitting collapsed aligned separate stackingof a plurality of said body members and said bottom members, said bottommember being insertable into said body member when expanded so that thelatex adhesive layer applied to the bottom-attaching portions willcontact and adhere to the adhesive coated face of said bottom member.

2. A tubular body member for knockdown containers adapted to be shippedand stored in collapsed condition and set up by the user including, atubular side wall portion having diametrically opposed score linespermitting substantially flat collapse thereof, bottom-supportingportions extending from said side wall portion, and latex adhesiveapplied to said bottom-supporting portions on the inside face thereofonly, said bottomsupporting portions being folded inwardly andjuxtaposed substantially in surface contact with the inside face of saidside wall portion when said side wall portion is in collapsed positionpermitting collapsed aligned stacking of a plurality of said bodymembers.

3. A- tubular body member adapted to be shipped in substantiallycollapsed flat position and thereafter set up by the user as needed,said body member having a tubular side wall portion, means permittingsaid side wall portion to collapse into substantially flat collapsedposition, bottom-supporting tabs extending from said side wall portion,and a latex adhesive coating applied to the inside face of said tabsonly, said tabs being foldable inwardly and juxtaposed substantially insurface contact with the inside face of said side wall portion when saidbody member is in collapsed position to thus prevent latex-' coatedareas from coming into adhering contact when a plurality of said bodymembers are arranged in collapsed aligned stack relationship. HERMAN A.CARRUI'H.

